UNDER 20 WORLD CUP: NIGERIA AND PORTUGAL PROGRESS

Portugal and Nigeria won their final Group B matches to reach the last 16 of the Under-20 World Cup on Thursday, while third-place South Korea still has a chance of advancing.
Portugal striker Bruma scored his fourth and fifth goals of the event to help the two-time champions beat Cuba 5-0 and top the group, while Nigeria defeated South Korea 1-0 after an early goal by Olarenwaju Kayode and overtook the Asians for second place.

Ricardo, Aladje and To Ze also found the net for Portugal, while Bruma almost added a sixth when his thundering 20-meter (yard) effort hit the top of the crossbar.
It was Portugal's biggest ever win in the competition, improving on 3-0 defeats of Argentina in 1991 and the Netherlands four years later.
Portugal won the title in 1989 and '91 and finished runner-up to Brazil two years ago. Cuba, which lost all three games and became the first team to be eliminated, was making its first appearance in the tournament.
Nigeria secured its victory after Kayode was left unmarked by the South Korean defense and headed home a free kick by captain Abdul Ajagun in the ninth minute.
South Korea, which held Portugal to a 2-2 draw Monday, dominated play for large parts of the second half but lacked creativity in attack.
The best four teams to finish third in the six groups will advance to the knockout stage, along with all the group winners and runners-up.
In the last matches of Group A, the United States was taking on Ghana and Spain was playing France later Thursday. Spain won its two previous matches and has already secured its spot in the next round

SPAIN TO CHANGE TV RIGHTS SYSTEM

Spain's government plans to push for a new law that will give the Spanish football league control over the collective sale of television rights in a move to improve club finances, collect outstanding taxes, and increase competitiveness.

Miguel Cardenal, president of Spain's Sports Council, said on Thursday that he wants to present the new law by the end of this year to give the league more power over the individual clubs.
Currently, powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid earn several times more than the rest of Spain's clubs from TV rights which they sell individually.

Barcelona and Madrid rake in a reported 140 million euros ($182 million) each from television revenues, while the next-highest earner, Atletico Madrid, makes 47 million euros ($61 million) and minnow Rayo Vallecano just 14 million euros ($18.2 million).
The two top earners have divvied up the last nine league titles between them.
Spain's football clubs have reduced their tax debts by 80 million euros ($140 million) but still owe the tax office around 670 million euros ($874 million). Cardenal said that having the league control TV revenues would increase transparency and improve the state's ability to collect on its tax bills.
''The centralization (of TV rights) would let the public administrations be the first to get paid,'' he said. ''Thirty-five percent of revenues from TV rights won't be passed on to the clubs that can't show they are up to date on their payments.''
Cardenal also said the government's new plan for sustainability has set a target of reducing the debt of Spain's football leagues from 4 billion euros ($5.2 billion) to 3 million euros ($3.9 million) by 2016.
In order to achieve this goal, Cardenal said the government's plan called for clubs to slash their collective budget for the season from 750 million euros ($975 million) to 650 million euros ($845 million).
However, Cardenal acknowledged that the push to balance club finances would lead to more top players being sold to foreign leagues and to the widening of the competition gap between Barcelona and Madrid and all the rest.
''Real Madrid and Barcelona have a level of debt that is acceptable given their capacity to earn revenues,'' he said. ''(The plan calls for) a reduction of 12-13 percent affecting most of the other teams, and some of them will say they have to sell players.''
Cardenal argued the talent drain to leagues like the Premier League, which is home to a growing number of Spanish internationals such as Fernando Torres, David Silva and Juan Mata, is the new status quo.
''We have become an exporting country,'' Cardenal said. ''It's a historic change and Spanish football has to recognize it.''

CASILLAS: SPAIN WERE LUCKY

Iker Casillas has hailed the current group of Spain players but conceded they were lucky in their penalty shoot-out win over Italy in the Confederations Cup semi-final.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper made some fine saves to help his team take the Azzurri all the way to penalties and secure a spot in the final against Brazil.

Following Leonardo Bonucci's miss for Italy in spotkicks, Jesus Navas scored to secure a 7-6 win for Spain and the Real Madrid man admits they rode their luck at times but the fans were witnessing a very special era in Spanish football.

"This generation is unforgettable. Lucky for the Spanish to have seen another win and we're in the final," Casillas said to Tele-5.

"The truth is it was very difficult to win. Italy had made an excellent approach. We tested Buffon as well but they placed us in trouble.

"The thing about the shoot-out is it is a lottery and we have been lucky enough to win. My team-mates have had full success on the penalties and they [Italy] missed one."

Casillas told reporters after the game that it could have easily been Cesare Prandelli's men who were to take on the Selecao.

"Again, we have to admit Italy played a great game. They could be up here talking about an Italy-Brazil in the final if not for a few bounces of the ball," he said.

"We have to recover, physically speaking. We're used to playing games on Wednesday and then on Sunday so we have no excuses not to be match fit.

"Italy had a very good style of play that we didn't expect, defensively they left a few gaps and we had chances to score. Navas was close in the second half of extra time. I'm sure that Brazil, however, will not have that particular style of play against us."

Having been pushed all the way through extra time Casillas admitted his side are fatigued and will need time to recover for Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro against the hosts.

"We are very tired. We need to rest. We will have to face Brazil in the Maracana. We will try to play a good game."

PRANDELLI: ITALY CAN COMPETE WITH THE BEST

Cesare Prandelli says Italy are able to compete with the best following their 7-6 penalties defeat to Spain in the Confederations Cup semi-final.

The Azzurri pegged back Vicente del Bosque's men for long periods and could have broke the deadlock in a game which remained goalless after extra time.

Leonardo Bonucci's skied spot kick allowed Jesus Navas to send Spain through in a pulsating shootout to meet Brazil in the final, but Prandelli feels they can take plenty positives from the game.

"We earned respect. The respect of our opponents and the awareness that we're able to compete with the best," he told reporters.

"Spain are a great team, they have continuity and we wish to have that continuity.

"We played the ball a lot, short passes on the floor and displayed great generosity. When you get to the penalty kicks though, anything than happen."

Italy were stubborn preventing la Roja from having a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes but Prandelli conceded that it was tough to continue in the same high-intensity vein throughout the entire game.

"We played a great first half and then of course we couldn't keep up the same intensity," he continued.

"We tried to play the ball low, but they were very good in defence and exploited some chances on the counter-attack. We used [Emanuele] Giaccherini a lot, especially in the first half and I have to congratulate my team.

"As I said before, we wanted to play the way we did. We wanted to deal with Spain on a technical level as well, we started out this way and I want to continue this because we have the right qualities to play this way."

Despite their heroic efforts against the world's best, Prandelli was not in the mood to talk about the upcoming 2014 World Cup.

"At this moment I don't have the right frame of mind to answer questions about the World Cup. Clearly, we have to qualify. We have not qualified yet," he added.

"Then, we have to try and do so in better physical condition. There will be time to talk about these problems and propose suggestions in terms of calendar changes."

NAPOLI PRESIDENT: I WON'T SPEAK TO CAVANI

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says that he doesn't need to speak to striker Edinson Cavani about a move away from the club.
Cavani reportedly said that he wanted to meet with officials from Napoli to discuss his future after Uruguay's 2-1 defeat to Brazil in the Confederations Cup.

But Laurentiis has said that at the moment, there's no need to talk.

Speaking to the press before the Italian league meeting, Laurentiis said: "There is no need to have a face to face with Cavani.
"If a club offers 63million Euros then we would allow him to leave. The release clause will have been activated.
"It's not fair that Cavani has distractions while he is playing in an important tournament like the Confederations Cup.
"Should we receive an offer, then fine. If this offer doesn't arrive the Cavani will stay in Italy with us."
Laurentiis did confirm though that the only side he had discussed Cavani with was Manchester City.
He added: "The only meeting I've had has been with Manchester City, but the offer was inadequate."

SUNDERLAND LINKED WITH PERUZZI

Argentine starlet Gino Peruzzi says he is only concentrating on Velez Sarsfield, amid speculation he is set for a move to Sunderland.

Peruzzi is due to feature for Velez against Newell's Old Boys in the Argentine league final at the weekend, and he insists he is concentrating on that.

However, the 21-year-old international - who has four caps for Argentina - is reportedly the subject of a bid from Wearside.
Peruzzi - the cousin of former Italian international Angelo, came to the fore in the 2012 Copa Libertadores when he brilliantly marked Neymar out of their semi-final clash with Santos.
The player himself is reported to have confirmed the offer from Sunderland but said: "My mind is set on Newell's, and then we will see."
Velez's general manager is, somewhat ironically, former Newcastle midfielder Christian Bassedas, who admitted Peruzzi was set to leave.
"He is the one that is closer to leaving the club," he told Ole.
Due to his Italian family, Peruzzi would be able to get a European passport, meaning he would not require a work-permit to play in the Premier League.

RATCLIFFE: BAINES BIGGER LOSS THAN FELLAINI

Everton legend Kevin Ratcliffe believes Leighton Baines will be a bigger loss than Marouane Fellaini, should the left-back move to Manchester United.

Former manager David Moyes is reportedly interested in taking the left-back to Old Trafford, who scored seven times and assisted a further six last season.

"Marouane Fellaini could also leave but Baines is the main concern," Ratcliffe told talkSPORT. "If he wasn’t scoring he was creating goals, I think he created more than any other left-back in the Premier League last year, certainly more than Ashley Cole.

"His free kicks and set pieces in and around the box are quality, and he’s improved massively as a defender as well.

"He’s a proven international now, he’s battling it out with Cole for the number one left-back spot for England, so he’ll be a big miss.

United are reported to have failed with a €14m bid for Baines, with the club insisting the England international is not for sale, but Ratcliffe believes €18 million will see Moyes reunited with the left-back.

"I would have thought the club would be looking for around the £15m mark if he was to leave," Ratcliffe continued. "I think if the right offer comes in Everton will take it and I think an improved bid of around €18m might sway things Manchester United’s way.

"If Everton get the right money it may be right for both parties to part company, especially because of his age. It's unlikely they'll get this much money for him two or three years down the line. But that’s only if the player wants to go."

PALACE AGREE FEE FOR DWIGHT GAYLE

According to Sky Sports, Crystal Palace have agreed a fee for Peterborough striker Dwight Gayle.

The 22-year-old only joined Peterborough in November last season and has caught Palace's attention with 13 goals, including an impressive hat-trick against Blackburn.

Gayle has made a rapid rise through the divisions, enjoying a brief prolific spell at Dagenham and Redbridge, and he now appears set to ply his trade in the Premier League with newly promoted Palace.
Peterborough director of football Barry Fry had confirmed earlier in the day that Palace were one of the clubs who were targeting the highly-rated youngster.
He told the South London Press: "We don't want him to go. He is on a four-year contract but so many clubs are in for him that it is very difficult for us to stop a player from League One moving to the Premier League.
"It has got to be a good offer - then we'd reluctantly let him go to the Premier League.
"He has got four years left but we are honourable people. We keep our best players as long as we can but if we get a good offer then we will listen to it.
"We've done that with all our players. The difference here is that Dwight is on a much longer contract.
"He is the best player I've had - by 100 miles. Just look at his goals - right foot, left foot and head."
Peterborough were condemned to relegation back to League One after a dramatic 3-2 defeat by the Eagles on the last day of the season.

CARDIFF AGREE FEE FOR DENMARK INTERNATIONAL

Cardiff City have agreed a fee with FC Copenhagen for Denmark international striker Andreas Cornelius.

KONE KEEN ON EVERTON MOVE

According to Sky Sports, Arouna Kone is only interested in a move to Everton to team up again with his former manager Roberto Martinez.

we understand Everton have made an enquiry for the striker, who has a clause in his contract at Wigan that allows him to leave for £6million.
Norwich and Swansea are also interested in Kone, who joined Wigan last summer from Spanish side Levante.
Kone, who scored 11 Premier League goals in his debut campaign in England, has already confirmed his desire to leave Wigan following their relegation from the top-flight.